“Lost my dad two years ago, so this one is for him,” said Wade Ormsby after edging Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent in a sudden-death playoff to win the inaugural Jakarta International Championship. The victory carried deep personal meaning for Ormsby, whose father, Peter Ormsby, passed away two years ago in October.

“It’s a special one for me, this one,” he added, lifting the trophy — his fifth on the Asian Tour. For the 45-year-old, it wasn’t a miracle but a hard-earned comeback after years of struggling for consistency, finally reclaiming glory with a golden triumph.

Peter was a respected PGA professional and one of South Australia’s sporting figures. His death was a shock to many, as he left the world peacefully in his sleep at the age of 70. To many, Peter was known as the long-time head pro at West Lakes Golf Club and the founder of Pete’s Golf, a golf store. But to Ormsby, this was a man who taught him everything foundational that he carries on the course today.

Before Wade turned pro, his father, Peter, was already shaping the game in his own way. A mentor and golf craftsman, he built Pete’s Golf into five stores across Adelaide and Darwin. Off the course, Peter’s love for motorsport led him to race in the South Australian Formula Vee Series during the 1970s, proudly displaying the #6 logo.

Losing his father was devastating for Wade. Peter passed just weeks before the Hong Kong Open, where Wade was set to defend his title. Though he played through the heartbreak, he missed the cut, making his Jakarta victory feel like a deeply personal, full-circle moment.

At Damai Indah Golf’s PIK Course, Ormsby closed regulation play tied at 12-under with Vincent after a gritty one-under 69. His win included nine straight pars as well as an eight-footer on the 18th hole, a struggle to keep him alive. In the playoff, when Vincent’s approach found the water, it opened a lucky door for Ormsby as he calmly two-putted for par to seal the title.

“I didn’t play my best golf this week, but I putted great early on,” he said. “I’d taken a few months off, flew to see Grant [Field], and we worked hard for a few days. Just trying to get myself back on track. So yeah, this one means a lot.” Grant Field, who’s Ormsby’s coach, had helped him rebuild his swing in order for the Australian to bounce back in contention after months of struggle.

Just in 2025, Ormsby had missed five cuts in his first 12 starts. As per stats, he shot over par in two-thirds of his rounds (24 of 36). His best finish was a tie for 21st in India, one of the only two top-25 finishes. As a LIV Golf reserve, he only teed it up twice this year — at Riyadh and Adelaide — finishing T25 in both.

Ormsby was not always an underwhelmer like this. Back in 2022, he captained Punch GC during LIV’s debut season. But the following year, the team was rebranded as Ripper GC under Cameron Smith‘s leadership, and Ormsby was quietly dropped from the full-time roster. Cut to the present day, he’d been relegated to a “reserve” role. This limbo eventually pushed him back to the Asian Tour, and it won’t be wrong to say that it worked out.

This win marks his second International Series title, and a step up in Order of Merit (5th) as well as International Series Rankings (3rd). Moreover, this victory might help him earn back his full LIV Golf status next season. For that, he will have to maintain top-tier results in the concluding International Series events, starting from the end of October.

So, although it was not the loudest victory, it surely did mean a lot to Ormsby. Also, the drama that unfolded in the event made it slightly difficult for the Australians to clinch the win.

The fourth hole drama

Midway through his third round at the Jakarta International Championship, Wade Ormsby was at the centre of a frustrating moment. His ball had come to rest on the fringe, just right of the fairway. As the Aussie tried to square his stance and ground his club, the officials ruled that the ball had moved. Under Rule 9.4 of the Rules of Golf, this called for a one-stroke penalty.

That ruling turned out to be costly – at least on paper. Ormsby had signed for an even-par 72, thinking he held a one-shot lead into the final round. But the damning penalty adjusted his total to 11-under. That left him tied with Scott Vincent and Gaganjeet Bhullar, instead of leading outright.

“It was disappointing, you know, but it is what it is,” Ormsby said later. “I did reset last night, and I felt fine about it… I was happy to be in the last group, so that didn’t change.” The next day, he came and shot nine straight pars, eventually driving him towards the victory.